New network seeks to break down science barriers

[NEW YORK] Scientific organisations and researchers working in developing
countries will be brought together through a network to be launched later this
year.

The programme, Scientists Without Borders, is an initiative of the New York
Academy of Sciences. It seeks to integrate the efforts of the scientific and
health community to address global health, agriculture and energy challenges in
accordance with the Millennium Development Goals.

"The 'Without Borders' idea perfectly captures what we — and others in
different fields — are trying to do: break down the geographical (and other)
borders that can hinder progress, and engender the sense of belonging to a
global community," Evelyn Strauss, executive director of Scientists Without
Borders, told SciDev.Net.

The first step is to create a website, currently under construction, the
cornerstone of which will be a database holding information of programme
members. Information on the website will be ordered by fields of research, and
contains forums for members to make comments and a news section.

By facilitating contact through the website, the programme aims to align
initiatives and researchers with similar aims, give organisations and
individuals a method of registering their resource needs, and ensure continuity
in projects and prevent overlap.

The Academy has chosen Africa as the starting continent, with Ghana as the
pilot country. As much information as possible is being extracted from Ghana to
serve as a "proof of principle" for what the database will eventually look like.

So far, more than 70 organisations and 400 individuals globally have
committed to participate.

Ellis Rubinstein, president of the New York Academy of Sciences, told
SciDev.Net that the initiative had raised over US$1.1 million by November 2006,
paying for staff and the costs associated with setting up the database and
website. Their goal is to raise US$800,000 per year to cover the maintenance of
the network.

While the academy is acting as the administrator and promoter of the network,
the network will be under the control of the members.

"We power it and it
belongs to all of the institutions partnering with us to help Africa … and
ultimately the rest of the developing world," explains Rubinstein.

Scientists Without Borders will be officially launched on 12 May in New
York.